Manhunt: Search for the Night Stalker (1989) - full transcript
"Manhunt" vividly tells the terrifying story of the pursuit and capture of Richard Ramirez, "the Night Stalker" - a serial killer who terrorized California in mid 1980s.
(gentle music)
(slim jim rattling)
(lock clicks)
(door opens)
(tool clicking)
(lock cylinder clicks)
(engine rumbling)
(upbeat music)
(tires squealing)
(garage door whirring)
(mysterious music)
(gun clicks)
(car door opens)
(car door closes)
(lock clicks)
(garage door whirring)
(Maria gasps)
(gun fires)
- No!
(keys jingling)
(Maria groaning)
(garage door whirring)
(Maria groans)
(gun firing)
(Maria panting)
(dog barking)
Oh, god.
Please don't.
Oh, god, please don't shoot me again.
Please don't.
(Maria panting)
(dog barking)
(engine rumbling)
Dayle?!
Oh, god, no!
God, no!
(police radio chattering)
(officers chattering)
- Miss Hernandez?
I'm Sergeant Frank Salerno.
This is my partner Gil Carrillo.
We're Los Angeles Sheriff's investigators.
- Dayle's dead, isn't she?
- Was she your roommate?
- Her name is, was Dayle Okazaki.
Why would anybody do this to us?
- I don't know.
Can you tell us what happened?
- It happened so fast.
I parked my car in the garage.
Suddenly, he was in there.
He didn't say anything.
He just shot at me for no reason.
And then he went inside.
(Maria sighs)
- It's a good thing you
were holding your keys.
They deflected the bullet.
Can you tell us what this man looked like?
- His hair, it was curly.
I remember his teeth,
they were really bad.
You know, rotten and all.
- All right.
We'd have a better chance of catching him
if you would sit down with our artist
and help him make a drawing of the guy.
- I'll try.
- [Gil] Okay.
- Your boyfriend called.
He's going straight to the hospital
and he'll meet you there.
- [Maria] Thank you.
- Lie down, okay?
So what do you think?
- I don't know.
- Yeah, it's a strange one.
Could just be a burglar who got surprised.
- Yeah, but so the burglar
goes into the house
and kills the Okazaki woman,
after he's been surprised
by Hernandez in the garage?
- Yeah, and why didn't he finish Hernandez
when he had the chance?
- Right.
Just doesn't hang together.
(ominous music)
(tires squealing)
(gear stick clacks)
(tires squealing)
(car door opens)
(car door closes)
- No!
(car horn honking)
No!
No, no, no!
No, no, no, please, no!
No!
No, please.
Please, please, don't hurt me!
No, please!
No, let go of me!
No, no!
No, please, don't hurt me!
No, please!
No!
No!
No!
(gun fires)
(glasses clattering)
(birds chirping)
(typewriter clacking)
(telephone ringing)
- [Gil] Frank.
- What is this?
- Breakfast.
I got you a deluxe burrito.
Beans and sausage, salsa
picante, peppers, and onions.
- Oh, hey, thanks very
much for getting it,
but, you know, I can't eat it.
- Why not?
- Fear.
- It's not that picante. You'll like it.
(Frank chuckles)
- Listen, Gil, I gotta tell you something.
I don't eat anything that's
made in the cafeteria.
- This is the food of Aztec kings.
This is East LA food.
It's good for the soul.
You don't know what you're missing.
- Come on, finish that
on the way downstairs.
Phil Thomas wants to see us.
- [Anne] Well, the city must be safe.
Frank Salerno isn't out at a crime scene.
- Hello, Miss Clark.
- Hi.
- Like you to meet my
new partner Gil Carrillo.
Anne Clark, Channel 3.
- How you doing?
- Nice to meet you.
- [Frank] So where's the Siamese twins?
- [Gil] What?
- [Anne] I think he means
my camera and sound.
They're having coffee.
(Frank chuckles)
Listen, is there anything
special about the shooting
of those two women at
that house in Rosemead?
- No, nothing special.
No motive, no suspect.
- Just checking.
- And no story.
- What's that supposed to mean?
- Oh, for you media types,
there's two kinds of homicides.
There's the whodunit and the who cares.
And most of the time, you don't care.
- Not broadcasting isn't
the same as not caring.
Look, I've got over 40
separate police departments
I have to check with besides
the Sheriff Department.
Whether you like it or not,
yours is just another LA County murder.
- Touchy.
- Not really.
Listen, when you get
into the whodunit part,
why don't you let me know?
I'll make you a hero again.
- Ah, the truth comes out.
Anne Clark was your press agent
on the Hillside Strangler case?
- Yeah, she did her best
to screw up that case too.
- I like her.
- You like everybody.
(folders thudding)
- Look at this damn place.
I've been testifying for three days
in a 10-year-old homicide case
where the defense
attorney keeps going over
the crime scene inch by inch by inch.
The judge oughta cut him off, but no.
- What do you got, Phil?
- Monterey Park had a young Asian woman
pulled out of her car, shot, and killed,
less than an hour and two miles
from where your victims were hit.
They think it's either
gang violence or robbery.
- What do you think?
- I think there's a
probable make on the .22
between both killings.
- You positive?
- With a .22, the best
I can do is probable.
The bullet is in a jacket,
and I just don't have enough
diameter to work with.
- Monterey Park got any witnesses?
- Yeah, some guy heard the shots
and saw the suspect get away.
- Let's send the composite
that Maria Hernandez made
over to Monterey Park.
See what their witness got to say.
Maybe we'll get lucky.
Thanks, Phil.
(switch clicks)
- [Pearl] You're gonna be late?
- I don't know. It's a double homicide.
- Mm.
- You feel like waiting up?
- I don't know, Gil.
Take your choice.
Hero or lover?
- Well, how about I'm the hero first,
and then you reward me?
- Red dog!
- Ah, blindsided again!
I think I fumbled!
- Let's go outside and
play some ball, Dad!
- Oh, I gotta take a rain check, Jaws.
I gotta go to work.
- [Jaws] You always have to go to work.
- Well, I know, but that's how I keep
your mama in diamonds and furs.
- I wish!
♪ Walked into the room ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ All the heads began to turn ♪
- Get down, get down.
- [Rene] Daddy.
- Rene!
- You can't Schicchi.
- [Pearl] I like the
way your daddy dances.
- Yeah, how do you think
I won your mama's heart?
- It wasn't dancing.
(button clicks)
Hey!
We were listening to that.
- You were? I thought you
were doing your homework.
- Where's the call-out at?
- To Whittier, I think.
- Oh, then you won't be home late.
(car horn honking)
- That's Frank.
- Mm.
- Daddy, be careful.
- Yeah, I will. You girls be good.
(Pearl chuckles)
(hands slapping)
All right.
(police radio chattering)
So did Monterey Park have
any luck with the composite?
- [Frank] No, just a dead end.
- [Gil] Damn.
(police radio chattering)
- [Officer] Move it along.
Let's go.
(car doors opening)
(police radio chattering)
- What do we have, Phil?
- The victims are husband
and wife, both Caucasian.
Vincent Zazzara, he's about 60.
His wife's name is Maxine, 40-ish.
- How were they killed?
- He was on the couch.
She's in the bedroom.
Both were shot in the head.
My preliminary guess is a .22.
- You ready to upgrade your make
from probable to positive, Phil?
(camera snaps)
- I think the killer
left by the front door,
but he probably got in back here.
We got a good print on the bucket,
and another one in the dirt.
Whoever did this also
used a knife on the woman.
Carved her up like a piece of meat.
And then he cut her eyes out.
This bastard took her eyes with him.
(ominous music)
(crickets chirping)
(dog barking)
(gate creaks)
(birds chirping)
- Last night, in Eagle Rock,
an eight-year-old girl
was kidnapped and raped.
We got this print at the scene.
It matches exactly this print
which we got out at the Zazzara house.
- The lab says we also
have a probable make
on the weapon in the Zazzara killings
to the shootings of the Asian women
in Rosemead, Monterey Park.
- But we think it's all tied to one guy.
- Now, wait a minute,
you got a child molester
and you got a murderer.
I don't see the connection.
- The connection isn't
all that obvious, Captain.
I mean, there's no pattern to the crimes.
- Yeah, sometimes there's a
murder, sometimes a burglary,
sometimes he just goes after kids.
- But it's one guy, I can feel it.
- What do the other departments think?
- That we're crazy.
The MOs indicate we should be
looking for several people.
- But, sir, I prefer to go
with the evidence, all right?
The tennis shoe prints
and the ballistics all
point to one suspect,
and we better do something about him.
- What do you need?
- Well, we could use some manpower.
The leads go all over the place.
- Okay. I can give you three teams.
Frank, you coordinate.
Put this case on the top of your list.
- Thanks.
(people chattering)
- Remember the shooting of
those two women in Rosemead?
- [Anne] Yeah, but there was
nothing special about it.
- I just got a call from a friendly source
who tells me that there's a mini taskforce
being formed up in Homicide,
that the Rosemead shooting is a part of
what they're investigating.
- What the hell is that all about?
- [Peter] That's what I
originally sent you to find out.
- I talked to the detectives.
- Anne, you know, a
good reporter finds out
what the story really is.
I can get a runner to
pick up press releases.
- Three rapes, definitively
tied into our case.
Five burglaries.
Okay?
Three child molestations.
Four murders.
All committed right in this area.
And then, last night,
William Doi, 60 years old,
took a probable .22 in the head.
- Aren't we missing something here?
Half these victims are Asian.
- Yeah, we kicked that around a bit,
but, you know, could
be just a coincidence.
The area he's hitting in right now
has a large Asian population.
- Yeah, there's no pattern
to the age of victims,
or the type of crime,
or the type of house,
or the color of house, or anything.
- We do know that he's wearing gloves,
which is why we're not getting any prints,
and, what, he is taking property
on the burglaries, mostly jewelry.
So, let's start checking the pawnshops.
He's gotta be dumping
this stuff someplace.
- Russo and I tracked down
that tennis shoe print.
It's a special shoe made by Avia,
and there are only 1,356 distributed.
- That's great, Washington.
That's gonna make it
that much easier for you
when you start tracing
every bill of sale, today.
(group laughing)
- Why did I know you were gonna say that?
- [Officer] You're saying the
color of the car was white?
Four-door?
- [Anne] I was just coming to see you.
- Oh, that's too bad. You just missed me.
- You haven't been returning my calls.
(button clicks)
(elevator bell dings)
- I didn't get any calls.
Did you get any calls?
- I didn't get any calls.
- Sorry.
- Okay, forget the calls.
You lied to me, Frank.
You told me there was no motive
or suspect in the Okazaki killing.
- I wasn't lying.
- Oh, really?
Well, I've been doing some checking.
What about William Doi?
Miss Yu?
The Zazzaras?
Did I miss any?
- All those cases are under investigation.
- Do these killings have any
connection to the taskforce
that's been formed in Homicide?
- Taskforce? What taskforce?
- Salerno, I'm gonna
find out what's going on,
with or without your cooperation.
You know, you used to be a
pretty easy guy to talk to?
Now, you turned into a real hard nose.
- Look, this is different,
really different.
- In what way different?
What are you calling this killer?!
- Suspect!
- She gonna start putting heat on us?
- Oh, not just her.
We're gonna have the
whole damn press corps
down here poking around.
And the more they learn,
the more likely our suspect
will get nervous and split.
(police radio chattering)
- Put yourself right here.
I'm going down.
(police radio chattering)
(officers chattering)
- Channel 3 Exclusive News has learned
the two elderly sisters,
Mabel Bell and Florence Lang,
were brutally attacked while they sat
watching television in their home.
Although Los Angeles
Sheriff homicide detectives
would not be interviewed,
the Night Stalker taskforce
has been to the scene
of this terrible crime.
The taskforce has been investigating
the Night Stalker killings
for over eight weeks.
There appear to be no leads.
(button clicks)
- This maniac has killed
five people already.
I got a wife and kid to worry
about, and I'll tell you,
I got my hunting rifle
stashed under my bed.
If he comes from me, I'm gonna be ready.
Fill you up?
- No thanks.
(handset clacks)
(coins rattling)
- Mrs. Bell didn't make it.
She died an hour and a half ago.
- What about her sister?
- Yeah, well, she's still hanging on,
but I don't think she's
gonna be much use to us.
- Unbelievable.
You work hard your whole life,
you take good care of your family,
go to bed one night and get
beat to death by this bastard.
For what?
- Take it easy, Gil.
(Gil sighs)
Come on.
We'll get him.
- When?
When are we gonna get him?
- It's not necessarily the same guy.
Mrs. Bell had a pentagram
drawn on her thigh.
There was another one on the wall.
With all the other murders,
there was none of that Satanic crap.
- Frank, it's him.
He's working my neighborhood now.
My wife is starting to ask me questions.
I don't know what to tell her.
- Want another drink?
- No, I better get home before Pearl files
a missing persons report.
I'll see you.
- Gil.
We are gonna get him.
He'll make a mistake, soon.
- Yeah.
(gentle music)
(tires squealing)
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
(police radio chattering)
- You know why I pulled you over, sir?
- [Man] No.
- Failed to come to a complete
stop back at that stop sign.
May I see your driver's license, please?
- [Man] Don't have it.
- Step out of the car, please?
(door opens)
Do you have any identification at all?
- No.
- All right.
What's your name?
- [Man] Sanchez. Jose Sanchez.
- [Officer] Date of birth?
- [Jose] April 2nd, '61.
- [Officer] Where do
you live, Mr. Sanchez?
- [Jose] 302 Elmwood.
- [Officer] 302 Elmwood.
All right, just hang loose a
minute. This won't take long.
(keyboard clicking)
- [Dispatcher] All units,
an attempted kidnapping
just occurred at York and North Broadway
by a male, dark, driving
a late model red Toyota.
Suspect was last seen driving westbound...
(upbeat music)
(gate rattles)
(ominous music)
- Is Jack Peterson married?
- [Frank] Yeah, last time I heard.
- [Jane] Well, I'll take a chance
and send the invitation to Mr. and Mrs.
I'm inviting the Keltners.
- No, you're not.
- Why not?
- 'Cause I don't like the Keltners.
- Well, they invited us
to their son's wedding.
- But I didn't go. Ah.
- Because you were working.
But we were still invited.
- And I still don't like the Keltners.
(telephone ringing)
Hello?
Yeah.
Great.
It's about time we hit something.
Right.
Thanks, Gil.
- Guess I'll finish this on my own?
- Sorry.
It's important.
I love you.
I still can't stand the Keltners.
- [Dr. Chow] You'll have to excuse me.
I'm not used to opening up this office.
(lock clicking)
My assistants are here usually before me.
- [Frank] We wanna thank
you for coming in, Dr. Chow.
- Let me turn on some lights.
(switch clicks)
I hope I can find the file.
I wish Marshall were here.
Here it is.
Jose Sanchez.
- Does this drawing resemble Mr. Sanchez?
- I think that's him.
He was in here only one time.
- Did he give you an address?
- He must have when he filled out
the patient information form.
Here. Jose Sanchez.
302 Elmwood Road.
- Did he make another appointment
when he was in here last time?
- I can check the book.
His teeth were in very bad condition.
I just gave you his address.
Why don't you just go up and pick him up?
- Well, we'd love to, but
that address doesn't exist.
We already checked it out.
- What did he do?
- We don't know that he did anything.
We just wanna talk to him.
(ominous music)
- Well...
I don't see anything.
Wait.
Here it is.
- Jose Sanchez, 3:00 p.m., the 22nd.
You think he'll show?
- It's in the book.
(Frank sighs)
(bag rustling)
- What the hell's keeping this
guy? It's after four o'clock.
- I don't know.
Maybe he figures we found the card.
Maybe he forgot about the
appointment. I don't know.
- You wanna call it off for today?
- No.
He's open till five. Let's wait it out.
- What?
- I don't know, just
thinking how lucky I am.
- How lucky are you, Frank?
- Well, that it's not winter yet.
You know, when I gotta
roll up the windows.
- Would you suffer in
silence for a change?
It's too damn hot.
(Frank chuckles)
- Have a little more salsa, huh?
- Shut up.
- There he is.
There he is.
(apprehensive music)
- Target approaching location.
Take him.
(upbeat music)
Police officer. I'd like to talk to you.
(gate rattles)
You're under arrest for
suspicion of murder.
(tires squealing)
(handcuffs clicking)
(Gil speaking in foreign language)
(Frank sighs)
(Gil speaking in foreign language)
(door opens)
(Gil speaking in foreign language)
What's up, Captain?
- Your suspect's alibi checks out.
The guy was in prison until last week.
He's not your man.
- Damn!
- You're positive the guy you arrested
at the dentist's office is clean?
- Yes, sir. He just was
released from the county jail.
He was doing six months
on a bad check charge.
- Anything from the streets yet?
- Zero, no trace of the stolen property.
We squeezed all our informants, nothing.
- We'd like to send out
this special bulletin
to most of the dentists in the area.
He tries to get treatment somewhere else,
we might get tipped off.
- With that many bulletins out,
we also buy ourself a pretty
good chance of a leak.
- Yeah, I don't like it much either.
But if one dentist calls in, that's it.
- Send it out.
There's something else
we should talk about.
Do you feel that air conditioning?
We've got the whole San
Gabriel Valley sleeping
with their windows open
because of this heatwave.
This guy takes advantage
of those open windows.
We know that, the citizens don't.
We have to tell them.
- During recent months, a
number of sexual assaults
and murders may have been
committed by the same individual
in the San Gabriel Valley.
- What is that?
- Sheriff's Department's press release.
I mean, listen to this.
Investigation has revealed
that, in many cases,
doors and windows have been left unlocked
due to warm weather.
I mean, it's the stalker. It has to be.
- Anne, you know that,
the papers know that,
the networks know that.
That's not enough.
You've gotta know it first,
and you've gotta be able to prove it.
What do the cops have to say?
- As usual, nothing.
I mean, I've never worked on a case
where the lid has been shut so tightly.
- Hm.
Brown's got connections downtown.
What if I swing him over to help you out?
- I don't want any help. This is my story.
- What's wrong? Something bothering you?
- It's this assignment.
I've never been on an
assignment like this.
I can't get any information.
This killer, the Night Stalker,
he really has people afraid.
- So what is the problem?
That's a great angle for you.
City held hostage.
That's a whole new approach to the story.
(ominous music)
(crickets chirping)
(slim jim rattling)
(lock clicks)
(ominous music)
(police radio chattering)
(telephone rings)
(switch clicks)
- Yeah?
(Gil sighs)
How long ago?
Why wasn't it on the radio?
Nevermind. I'll roll on it.
- [Pearl] It's the same case, isn't it?
- I don't know. That's
what I gotta find out.
(switch clicks)
(telephone ringing)
Thanks.
Yeah?
Did you get that call, Frank?
No, I got the other notification.
How far from that location is this one?
(Gil sighs)
All right, I'll...
Yeah, I'll cover the first one.
All right.
- The stalker again?
- We think so, yeah.
- This is the third time you've received
a double notification, Gil.
I'm getting scared.
- You have nothing to worry about, Pearl.
- Is that why you stay up
listening to police calls
instead of going to sleep?
- Look, I'm just trying
to get a handle on this.
- Catch him, honey, soon.
(Gil sighs)
- I'm trying, baby.
I am trying.
(birds chirping)
- [Woman] Mary was going
to Australia this summer
with her senior citizens group.
She was really looking
forward to that trip.
- [Anne] Was she aware of the
recent murders in this area?
- Oh, sure.
We were talking about this
killer just the other day.
We've all been afraid.
Where can we go?
What can we do?
- You're the one that
found her, weren't you?
- Oh, I can't get that out of my mind.
When I woke up this morning,
I saw the screen was off
her living room window.
As soon as I went inside,
I knew something was wrong.
The lamp was laying on the floor,
and things were just thrown all about.
- Did you hear anything at all?
- No.
What bothers me is that I saw
this tall, dark man walking
in the neighborhood,
and he just didn't seem to belong.
Maybe if I'd call the police,
this wouldn't have happened to Mary.
- Why do you think he's
connected with her murder?
- The police showed me
a drawing of a suspect,
and I think it's the same man.
- Did they appear to agree with you?
- I think so.
They were very excited
about some tennis shoe print
that they found under
the living room window.
- Tennis shoe print?
- Come on, Anne, you can't
broadcast that information.
- Confirm or deny?
True or false?
Yes or no?
Come on yourself, Frank.
It's a very easy question.
Do you or do you not
have tennis shoe print
evidence on this killer?
- If any of this stuff gets out,
you can ruin the entire investigation.
- Well, it's my decision, not yours.
Never was, never will be.
- I'll make a deal with you. All right?
I'll give you the whole story
if you agree not to broadcast
any of it until I say so.
- I'll tell you what, I won't broadcast
unless I get corroboration
from an independent source.
- Not good enough.
- Oh, come on.
Then we're back to square
one. Confirm or deny?
- All right.
We have matched tennis shoe prints
from several murders and a kidnapping.
It's the only evidence we got.
And if you go on the air with this,
our killer would probably
dump the sneakers
and we'll never be able to identify him.
- Damn it, Frank, that's not fair!
This is a good story.
You can't lay that kind
of responsibility on me.
- Anne, right now, we
got this killer contained
in the San Gabriel Valley.
He's territorial.
It's only a matter of
time until we get him.
I mean, so what's it gonna be?
Your ratings or your conscience?
Sorry.
(birds chirping)
(doorknob rattles)
(hand knocking)
- Dad? Are you home?
We'll be late for church.
(hand knocking)
Mom? Are you in there?
(ominous music)
Mom?
Dad?
(ominous music)
Mom?
Dad?
(hand knocking)
(woman gasps)
Oh, god!
Oh, my god!
They killed my family!
Oh, god, help me!
Help me, please.
Oh, god.
(woman crying)
- Phil?
Carrillo just called in from Glendale.
A double murder.
It's the stalker.
- Well, you better go pick Gil up.
LAPD is investigating a murder in Sunland.
It could also be him.
- Phil, Sunland is in
the San Fernando Valley.
That's more than 20
miles from San Gabriel.
- Frank, I don't give a
damn if it's in China.
It looks like it could be the stalker.
- The one sure thing we got
on this guy is his geography.
There's a pattern. He's contained.
- Ah.
Well, what if he isn't?
(ominous music)
- [Detective] Suspect shot
the husband right off the bat,
then raped his wife.
They're both recent
immigrants from Thailand.
- [Frank] What did they take?
- [Detective] Hell, the wife's not sure,
but it could be as much as
30 grand in money and jewels.
Think this guy is tied into your killer?
- Oh, my god.
What are we gonna do now, Frank?
- Well, call Grimm's office.
Tell him the Night
Stalker has just started
hitting out of his territory.
(ominous music)
Now he's hitting out by my house too.
(Frank sighs)
- Oh!
- Oh!
(Frank chuckles)
What is wrong?
- Nothing's wrong.
(Jane sighs)
- You're a nervous wreck.
- I just have a few things on my mind.
- From work?
- No.
I was thinking about Butch's wedding.
You know, here, I've been so busy lately,
and you've been having to
make all the arrangements
- Frank, in all the years
you've been on the job,
I have never asked you any questions.
But you've never brought it home before.
I'm gonna start wondering
why it's home now.
(Frank sighs)
- I'm sorry, Jane.
(Frank chuckles)
There's nothing to worry about it.
I'll be right back.
(Jane sighs)
(keypad clicking)
(telephone rings)
- Hello?
- Hello, Gil?
- Frank, what's up?
- I got a funny feeling about tonight.
- I know, I'm getting the same vibes.
- He's gonna go out tonight. I know it.
- [Gil] Yeah, but where?
- I wish I knew.
It's driving me crazy.
- [Gil] You know, Frank,
I wonder if he ever thinks
about us and what we think about him.
- Yeah.
Me too.
(Frank chuckles)
♪ With shadows creeping to the air ♪
♪ When the sun falls from the sky ♪
♪ Streets reflect the midnight glare ♪
♪ And the dark gets in your eyes ♪
♪ The sirens stop their singing ♪
♪ And the cats begin to fight ♪
♪ The smell of violence rushes by ♪
(hand knocking)
- Can you lower that music?!
It's too loud!
No one can sleep!
(hand knocking)
♪ A night gremlin ♪
♪ I come into your home ♪
(hand knocking)
If you don't shut that music off,
I'm going to call the cops!
(hand knocking)
♪ A night gremlin ♪
(hand knocking)
♪ A night gremlin ♪
(dial clicks)
(baby crying)
(ominous music)
(ominous music)
(latch clinks)
- Who are you? What are you doing here?
- [Man] Shut up, bitch.
(woman screams)
(gun fires)
(indistinct)
(gun fires)
(man groaning)
(baby crying)
- I think I was hit with
some sort kind of gun.
I've been shot.
(baby crying)
- Oh, my god.
- Oh, I've been shot!
- The baby! The baby!
(baby crying)
It's all right, baby. It's okay.
All right, don't cry. It's all right.
Come on.
- He shot us! We're bleeding!
- Come on, we gotta get out of the house.
He might come back. Come on!
Come on!
- Okay!
(bells jingling)
(Jane sighs)
(gentle music)
(bells jingling)
(gate closes)
- You know, I've been planning
on rigging these for a long time.
It's not just him.
- I didn't say anything.
- I'm sorry, honey.
- What's really wrong?
Is it that couple that was
shot a little way from here?
The Petersons?
- He's right in our backyard, Jane.
It's never happened to us before.
- Well, the Petersons are
going to be okay, aren't they?
- They survived.
I don't know if they're gonna be okay.
How do you live with that memory?
I don't know if I could.
(Jane sighs)
- Oh, it's okay, sweetie.
- No, it's not.
My job is to get guys
like that off the streets.
People count on that.
I count on it.
(Frank chuckles)
When I went to the store,
this was the last set of bells, you know?
They're all sold outta locks.
People are scared.
They feel they can't count on us anymore.
- You're going to catch him.
I know you will.
- Anne Clark has been covering
the Night Stalker case
for Exclusive News since the beginning.
And she's here tonight
with a special report.
Anne?
- Thanks, Rip.
The dictionary defines fear
as a feeling of anxiety caused by
the presence of danger or evil.
At no time, in the history of Los Angeles,
has this definition been more poignant
than during the current reign of terror
of the Night Stalker.
- Scared, I think everybody else is scared
along with us, you know?
- It's as a scary situation. Okay?
I mean, what else can you...
I can't put it any better than that.
- I've been a very apprehensive.
I keep my doors locked,
and my guns loaded.
- [Anne] New memberships
in gun clubs have increased
over 200% in the last month.
The majority of these members are women,
women who are single, alone, and afraid.
- Either that or be sitting duck.
I have grandchildren. They come to stay.
Should I sit by and watch them get killed,
or should I try to save them?
(dog barking)
- For some, the anxiety is
lessened by getting a guard dog.
Others learn self-defense.
(man shouts)
(siren wails)
Communities are on the alert,
neighborhood watch committees
have been organized,
but the fear continues to escalate,
and citizens are losing faith
in the ability of the
police to protect them.
- Well, I think it's a community affair.
I think police just can't
take care of everything.
- As time goes by with less
and less progress being
made by the authorities,
the citizens are beginning
to believe that the night,
and the city, do belong
to the Night Stalker.
- Good story, Anne.
Is there anything our public
can do to protect themselves?
- The best thing is for
them to remember to keep
their doors and windows locked,
no matter how hot it gets outside.
- And speaking of hot,
Vance Kramer will be here with the latest
on our current heatwave,
when Exclusive News continues
right after these messages.
- Thanks, guys.
(crew chattering)
See you later.
- [Peter] Anne, good story.
- Thanks.
- Really, that was some fine work.
- Thank you.
- I talked to Harry about doing a special
on the Night Stalker.
You know, the whole shot, the killings,
the taskforce, everything.
- What did he say?
- He was interested.
Said there might even be a good chance
of running it nationally
with you as a cohost.
- Oh, you're kidding.
- But there's a catch.
We'd have to pick up something new,
anything that would be a
breakthrough in the case.
He doesn't want a special just to rehash
what we've already aired.
- I'll keep my eyes open.
(tongue clicks)
Peter.
- Yeah?
- Could you walk me to my car?
- Sure.
(Gil sighs)
- Pearl?
- Hello, Gil.
I've been waiting for you.
- What's going on, baby?
Where are the kids?
- They're at my folks'.
We're gonna stay with them for a while.
- Why?
- You have to ask?
I'm scared, Gil.
You're never home, and I'm scared.
I can't help it.
(Gil sighs)
- Okay, look, let's just
talk this out, all right?
I'm doing the best I can, sweetheart.
You feel like I'm letting
you down, is that it?
- You hit on the nose.
You're damn right. You're letting me down.
- Well, what do you want me to do, Pearl?
(Pearl sighs)
Pearl?
- That call-out in Diamond Bar,
it was him again, wasn't it?
(Gil sighs)
- Yeah, we think it was.
- That's right down the street, Gil.
- I know where it is.
You don't think I worry
about you and the kids?
- But it came down to a choice
between us and your job,
and you chose your job.
- My job puts food on that table!
You never objected before!
- I never was afraid before!
I didn't marry your
work, Gil, I married you!
- This is not about me, Pearl!
This is not my fault!
It's not even about us, it's about him!
And you know it.
- Maybe you're right.
Then the only thing that'll
help is for you to catch him.
- What do you think I'm trying to do?
- I can't stay here alone anymore, Gil.
(gentle music)
(Pearl sighs)
Take care of yourself, okay?
- Pearl?
(door closes)
(newspaper clatters)
(Gil sighs)
(telephone ringing)
(people chattering)
- [Washington] Phil Thomas wants you
to see these right away.
- [Frank] Oh, please, let it be good news.
- He changed guns on us.
He used a .25 in the last two killings.
- That's great!
Phil can you give us a
positive make on this .25.
We catch him with this gun, he's nailed.
- Hey, Frank! Gil!
Board of Supervisors
approved of the reward money.
- It's about time.
Now everybody in LA
will be looking for him.
- [Frank] Right.
(ominous music)
(bell tolling)
(cupboard doors slamming)
(drawer rattles)
(airplane screeching)
(tires screeching)
- When we saw this on the mirror,
we thought there might be a
connection to your suspect,
but the weapon doesn't fit.
This guy used a .25, not a .22.
- It fits.
- Good God in heaven.
And we thought it was hard
trying to catch him in the Valley.
He's cruising the whole damn state, Frank.
- Well, things move a
little quicker up here
than they do in LA.
City Council's pre-approved the reward,
and the mayor's got a press
conference this afternoon.
- We've been very careful
what we told the press.
- Don't worry about the mayor.
She's smart, and she's been briefed.
- The police are asking for information
that can lead to his arrest and capture.
So I would ask everybody,
please, closely study this composite.
- Is this the mayor?
- He's someone that-
- Yeah.
- Will go into a home
at night and will kill,
and kills at random.
There's a 10,000-dollar
reward for any information
which can lead to his
arrest and conviction.
- [Reporter] Mayor, how did
the police know this murder
is tied to the Night Stalker
slayings in Los Angeles?
- The ballistics on the weapon,
that killed both Mr. and Mrs. Pan
out on Eucalyptus over the weekend,
are the same ballistics on, I understand,
more than a dozen murders committed
in Southern California.
- Oh, great!
That's great!
Well, it won't be the same ballistics
for very much longer, will it?!
Huh?!
Because now he's gonna dump the damn gun.
We had one rock solid piece
of evidence against this guy.
Now your mayor's gone spit it
out on national television.
Hey, real good briefing.
- That was the best piece
of information we had.
- [News Anchor] Known in Los
Angeles as the Night Stalker,
is now now here in the Bay area.
Mayor Feinstein...
(ominous music)
(suspenseful music)
(metal rattles)
(metal crashes)
- Hello?
Somebody out there?
(thrilling music)
(car door opens)
(car door closes)
(engine rumbling)
(tires squealing)
(dial whirring)
- [Officer] 9-1-1. Officer Kurtz.
- Hello? Officer, this
may not be anything,
but my mom's part of the new
neighborhood watch program
and she said I should call in
if I saw anything suspicious.
(police radio chattering)
- After he shoots our victim
three times in the head,
he ties up his fiancee and rapes her.
And get this, then he
goes into the kitchen,
helps himself to dinner.
He sits in front of the refrigerator,
eating their leftovers for over an hour.
- Oh, my god.
All right, any stolen property?
- Mostly jewelry.
We'll get a list tomorrow.
That woman's in pretty bad shape.
- Did she give us an ID on the composite?
- Like I said, we'll talk
to her again tomorrow.
A kid spotted a car cruising
the area with its lights off
just before the shooting.
Toyota station wagon.
Does that ring any bells?
(Gil sighs)
- Yeah, that rings some bills.
- Yeah, it's what he likes to use.
- Kid got most of the plate.
- [Gil] Well, that's something.
- One more thing, our
boy's getting pretty bold.
He left a message for you with the victim.
- Oh, yeah?
What?
- "Tell him the Night Stalker was here."
- [News Anchor] And now, we'll go to Cary
with the latest on the Night Stalker.
- [Cary] While investigation
of the Night Stalker
centered in San Francisco,
the elusive killer traveled
the length of the state
last night to strike in-
- Mom, Mom, it's Dad!
- [Cary] Between Los
Angeles and San Diego.
Despite the efforts of 50
full-time investigators,
from six agencies, the
Night Stalker taskforce-
- Finish your homework, buddy.
- But, Mom, it's Dad.
(Pearl sighs)
- What's the matter, miha?
You don't feel good?
- I feel okay.
- Okay people don't lay in bed crying.
- I just miss Daddy.
I miss him so much.
- Oh, sweetheart.
(Pearl sighs)
I miss him too, so much.
(dog barking)
(police radio chattering)
(ominous music)
- Control, this is 7 Adam 13.
Confirm 187 vehicle report.
Orange Toyota license,
930 Victor Echo Lima.
- I just spoke to Captain Grimm.
Keep the car under surveillance overnight.
He doesn't pick it up by
morning, we'll tow it to the lab.
Hope we get lucky.
Yeah.
Thanks a lot.
I got it.
- Hi.
- [Gil] Hi.
- [Frank] Who are you?
- Hamilton. I just started
on the force today.
- So?
- So I just took this over the phone.
Guy's name is Jesse. Claims
he knows who the stalker is.
- So do a lot of people.
- I know, but this guy described
a couple of the stolen
jewelry pieces real well.
And it says in the report
that we never released that information.
- [Frank] Hamilton, where have you been?
- You guys should've
called me up here earlier.
I could've solved this
thing on the first day.
- Wise guy.
Boom.
(Hamilton chuckles)
(ominous music)
- [Jessie] You guys Salerno and Carrillo?
- [Gil] Yeah.
Yeah.
You must be Jessie, huh?
- [Jessie] Yeah.
- [Frank] Got a name for us?
- Just the first one. His name is Rick.
- What about Rick?
- Mexican from El Paso.
He's one weird dude, man.
Like, I don't want any part of him.
- What's so weird about him?
- Drawing pentagrams, always
thinking about power of Satan,
power of Satan, like he's on some mission
from the Devil or something.
- And how do you know so much about him?
- I used to run with him.
Yeah, I admit it, I ain't no angel.
Maybe I even did some things
that shouldn't have been done,
but I ain't never killed
nobody, you can bet on that.
Right, right, uh-huh.
- I want him, Jessie.
I want him now.
We're gonna take you
down to the station now,
and you're gonna remember every place
that this guy Rick ever ate or drank
or slept or blew his nose.
- So I called you in the first place.
Yeah, I ain't interested just
in the reward money, you know?
- Yeah, right.
Oh, I bet you're just an upstanding,
civic-minded individual, aren't you?
(engine rumbles)
(winch whirring)
- Be careful. Careful!
I don't wanna see your damn
prints on that vehicle.
- We struck out every time so far.
He's either wearing gloves
or he's wiping clean.
- Well, we got a new toy.
The laser beam and the
fumes from super glue,
we can pick up any prints that
some guy has tried to wipe.
- Yeah.
Well, just give me something to go on.
- Hey, Frank, I want him too, you know?
- Sorry, Phil.
I'm tired of notifying
next of kin, that's all.
(upbeat music)
- [Gil] How long is this gonna to take me?
- Beats me.
(Frank sighs)
How's the family?
- Not good.
I guess I never understood how tough
it is being married to a cop until now.
- No fun and games, huh?
- Not too many.
(gentle music)
- Jane all right?
- Oh, well, (chuckles)
Jane's been a regular trooper
for more than 25 years now.
Anyway, it's different for us.
Our kids are all grown.
- Yeah.
(Gil sighs)
So he got to you too, didn't he, Frank?
(upbeat music)
(Gil coughing)
What time is it?
- Three in the morning.
(Gil sighs)
- I feel terrible.
- You look terrible.
- How can you drink coffee in this heat?
- Helps me sleep.
(Frank chuckles)
It's a joke.
- Yeah.
(Gil sighs)
(Frank chuckles)
(door closes)
- We found one print that doesn't belong.
- If it's good enough, it's all we need.
- Oh, it's good enough, all right.
- We just finished the
programming before you arrived.
- [Frank] I appreciate the effort.
- No problem.
The image scanner will
automatically initiate a search
and print out a hit list.
(keyboard clicking)
- So what do we do, run down
the list till we get a make?
- Oh, we probably won't have to do that.
The computer will assign a number
to each name that's on the list
plus a probability that it's the target.
Most of the time, the
number one choice is right.
- Will it take long?
- Are you kidding?
This baby can flip through
650 prints a second.
We'll go through her whole
memory in just a few minutes.
(printer whirring)
Ah, there it is.
(paper rips)
According to the computer,
number one on the list
has a probability rating
four times as high as that
of the nearest contender.
(ominous music)
- Richard Ramirez.
- You've already met Chief Gates
from the Los Angeles Police Department.
This is Sheriff Brad
Gates from Orange County.
- How do you do, Sheriff?
- Hi there, how are you?
- Nice to meet you.
- What'd you find out?
- We showed Ramirez's
mugshot to our informant.
Positive make, no doubt about it.
- And we're very confident
that we have pinpointed his hangouts.
- Give us another 24 hours,
and we'll have him wrapped up.
- Gentlemen?
How do you feel?
- Well, I can appreciate what
Frank and Gil are saying,
but we have to release the information.
What happens if he kills someone
in the 24 hours before we catch him?
- Yes, I agree with Daryl.
Our obligation is to a potential victim.
- Sir, if his identity is made public,
we may never see him again.
- Yeah, all he has to
do is skip into Mexico,
and that'll be it.
- I don't think this is a
question of "Shall we release?"
We can't not release.
- Look, right now, he hasn't got a clue
that we know who he is and where he is.
He could walk into her hands any minute.
- I'm sorry, Frank.
(Frank sighs)
We've got to release.
Let's call Chief Murphy in San Francisco.
If he agrees with our decision,
we'll hold simultaneous news
conferences within the hour.
- Frank, if I had been
there in the trenches
the way you and your men have
been for the last five months,
I'd be arguing the same way.
- Yeah.
Well, let's hope Ramirez
doesn't read the papers.
(door opens)
(door closes)
(ominous music)
- [Announcer] Bus number
453 leaving for Los Angeles
will be departing from stop number 2.
Bus number 169 leaving for Las Vegas
will be departing from stop number 10.
Bus number 676 leaving
for Tijuana, Mexico,
will be departing from stop number 8.
Bus number 812 leaving for
Albuquerque, New Mexico,
will be departing from stop number 20.
(upbeat music)
Bus number 354 leaving
from Prescott, Arizona,
will be departing from stop number 7.
(coin rattles)
Bus number 961 leaving
for Santa Fe, New Mexico,
will be departing from stop number 12.
Bus number 767 leaving for (indistinct)
will be departing from stop number 10.
Bus number 280 leaving for Flagstaff
will be departing from stop number 30.
(upbeat music)
(bus hisses)
(ominous music)
- Oh, my god, it's him.
It is him, the Night Stalker.
(dramatic music)
Get me the police.
(people chattering)
- 1 Adam 6, 1 Adam 6, see the man,
possible wanted 187 suspect.
800 block of town.
Your call is code 2.
(siren wailing)
(tires squealing)
187 suspect Richard Ramirez
last seen running eastbound
from the 800 block of town streets.
- Yo, Frank, pick up line 3.
(Frank sighs)
- Salerno.
We're on our way.
He's been spotted. Let's close in.
- [Gil] Yeah!
(helicopter whirring)
- [Richard] Open the door!
- Got a moment?
- Yeah, but just a moment.
They think they're pursuing Ramirez.
- I'm gonna send Judy out on this one.
- What?
You can't do that.
- Oh, yes, I can, and I am.
- This is my story. I've been
on it since the beginning.
- I've been talking to my source downtown.
You had that tennis shoe
clue a long time, Anne,
and and you sat on it!
- That's right, Peter, I had it.
I had it and I sat on it.
- We could've scooped the
other networks with that story.
You could've had that special.
- My god, do you have any
idea what that would've meant
to a station like ours?
- What the hell is wrong with you?
If I had released that information,
it would've taken that much longer
for them to catch this guy.
Do you realize how many
more people might've died?
What the hell is that worth?
- I'm sorry.
(Peter sighs)
Bring back a good story.
(suspenseful music)
(people chattering)
(bell ringing)
- Suspect Richard Ramirez is reported
to be wearing black pants and shirt
and carrying a black backpack.
Suspect should be considered
armed and dangerous.
- This is it, Gil.
I can feel it.
It's all over.
(siren wailing)
(thrilling music)
(helicopter whirring)
- Hey, that's him, man.
That's the Night Stalker.
- Come on, eh, you're crazy!
- [Man In Purple] Look at the paper!
- It is him. Well, what should we do, eh?
- Let's follow him, all right?
Come on, you guys, let's follow him.
Come on!
He's up there someplace.
Let's go.
He's right up there, man. Take your time.
There he is. Now take to the right.
Not too close.
- Hey, he knows we're following him.
- Stop. Stop.
Drop me off. I'm calling the cops.
- What do you want from me?!
The hell do you want?
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
- [Dispatcher] Suspect reported northbound
on Mott Street from 8th.
- Let's keep him boxed in.
Seal it off at Brooklyn Avenue.
- Control, this is King 12.
Request patrol units establish a perimeter
at Brooklyn on the north.
- Indiana Street on the east.
4 Adam 3, 4 Adam 16,
proceed to Olympic Boulevard
on south and meet 4L30.
(siren wailing)
(tires screeching)
(helicopter whirring)
(gate rattling)
(television chattering)
(Richard yelling in foreign language)
- No!
(lock clicks)
(dial whirring)
(tires screeching)
(siren wailing)
- Citizen reports suspect
Richard Ramirez is in the vicinity
of the 3600 block of Percy Street.
(siren wailing)
(helicopter whirring)
(siren wails)
(tires screeching)
(gate rattles)
(dog barking)
(car door opens)
(engine rumbling)
- [Man] That's my car!
(man yelling in foreign language)
(engine sputtering)
(man yelling in foreign language)
(tires screeching)
(man yelling in foreign language)
(engine sputtering)
(man yelling in foreign language)
(man groans)
(fence crashes)
(dog barking)
(siren wailing)
(Richard yelling in foreign language)
(woman screaming)
(woman yelling in foreign language)
(bar thuds)
(woman yelling in foreign language)
- Come on, it's him!
It's him! It's the Night Stalker!
Come on!
Come on!
(bar thuds)
(Richard groans)
Guys, hold him!
Hold him till the cops get here!
(siren wailing)
(people shouting)
Guys, stay with him!
(tires screeching)
(people shouting)
- We've been chasing him for 20 minutes.
- [Man] Get up! Come on!
Go!
- Get him up, move it!
- You're okay?
- Move, move, move, move.
- [Officer] Yeah, man, we got him.
(siren wailing)
(handcuffs clicking)
(Richard panting)
Come on, clear, man.
(people chattering)
(siren wailing)
- What's your name?
(Richard panting)
- Richard Ayala.
- One more time.
What's your name?
(Richard panting)
(Richard coughs)
(Richard panting)
- Richard Ramirez.
It's me, man.
(Richard panting)
It's me.
- Put him in the back of my car.
- [Officer] Let's go.
Get up.
- Up.
- Yeah!
- We've got him.
- Yeah!
- Get him outta here!
- [Gil] Round up all these witnesses.
Bring them down to Holiday. All right?
- [Frank] Let's get him
outta here right away.
(engine rumbles)
(crowd cheering)
(siren wailing)
- The capture of Richard Ramirez was,
in the truest sense, a community effort.
This same community, so
terrorized by the Night Stalker,
can now finally sleep in peace,
opening their doors and
windows in this heatwave,
as the suspect is now in custody.
(door opens)
- We're gonna be transporting
you to county jail.
You can call an attorney
when you get there.
- Officers.
(ominous music)
You're Salerno and Carrillo, aren't you?
You got the Hillside Stranglers.
- They were in this room.
- No kidding.
- You know, I was bigger than them.
I killed over 20 people.
- Why did you do that?
- Why?
Man, I like seeing people die.
(Richard laughing)
- I have been trying to
think what to say to you,
and there is nothing.
- You think I'm crazy.
But you don't know Satan.
(Richard humming)
(Richard laughing)
(Richard humming)
(Gil sighs)
- So why don't I feel like we won, Frank?
- Nobody won.
Too many people got hurt.
We're gonna be living with
this one for a long time.
- Yeah, they caught him about an hour ago.
No, no, I'm gonna send the
crew in soon with the tape.
No, no, Tammy can do the
story on the six o'clock.
I don't mind.
Yeah.
I love you too.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Anne.
Partner, I gotta make a phone call, so-
- Nice tie.
- Thank you.
- [Anne] Congratulations.
- Yeah.
Well, it was the photo in
the press that caught him.
Listen, I'm sorry I was so tough on you.
- Does that mean I'm gonna get
better cooperation on the next case?
- No.
We've gotta go case by case.
- Okay.
- But I do owe you one
for sitting on the tennis shoe evidence.
- So?
- So, you got your camera crew here?
- Yeah.
- Well, if you happen to be downstairs
in the next five minutes,
you just might get the
only exclusive shots
of the Night Stalker being
transferred out of this station.
- Frank!
Love you, Salerno!
- Sweetheart, it's me.
Did you hear?
It's over.
- Are you all right?
- I'm fine.
Look, I don't know how long
I'm gonna have to be here tonight,
but I want you to come home.
- We're on our way.
I'll see you at home.
- Baby?
- Mm?
- [Gil] I missed you.
(Pearl sighs)
- I missed you too, honey.
- See you tonight.
- Here they come.
Mr. Ramirez, would you
care to make a comment?
Are you the Night Stalker?
- All right, that's it.
Thank you. Easy does it.
(reporters chattering)
(crowd cheering)
(siren wailing)
- [Narrator] Richard
Ramirez was brought to trial
on 13 counts of murder, five
counts of attempted murder,
11 counts of sexual assault,
and 14 counts of burglary.
On September 20th, 1989,
he was found guilty on all counts.
(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)
(gentle music)
(slim jim rattling)
(lock clicks)
(door opens)
(tool clicking)
(lock cylinder clicks)
(engine rumbling)
(upbeat music)
(tires squealing)
(garage door whirring)
(mysterious music)
(gun clicks)
(car door opens)
(car door closes)
(lock clicks)
(garage door whirring)
(Maria gasps)
(gun fires)
- No!
(keys jingling)
(Maria groaning)
(garage door whirring)
(Maria groans)
(gun firing)
(Maria panting)
(dog barking)
Oh, god.
Please don't.
Oh, god, please don't shoot me again.
Please don't.
(Maria panting)
(dog barking)
(engine rumbling)
Dayle?!
Oh, god, no!
God, no!
(police radio chattering)
(officers chattering)
- Miss Hernandez?
I'm Sergeant Frank Salerno.
This is my partner Gil Carrillo.
We're Los Angeles Sheriff's investigators.
- Dayle's dead, isn't she?
- Was she your roommate?
- Her name is, was Dayle Okazaki.
Why would anybody do this to us?
- I don't know.
Can you tell us what happened?
- It happened so fast.
I parked my car in the garage.
Suddenly, he was in there.
He didn't say anything.
He just shot at me for no reason.
And then he went inside.
(Maria sighs)
- It's a good thing you
were holding your keys.
They deflected the bullet.
Can you tell us what this man looked like?
- His hair, it was curly.
I remember his teeth,
they were really bad.
You know, rotten and all.
- All right.
We'd have a better chance of catching him
if you would sit down with our artist
and help him make a drawing of the guy.
- I'll try.
- [Gil] Okay.
- Your boyfriend called.
He's going straight to the hospital
and he'll meet you there.
- [Maria] Thank you.
- Lie down, okay?
So what do you think?
- I don't know.
- Yeah, it's a strange one.
Could just be a burglar who got surprised.
- Yeah, but so the burglar
goes into the house
and kills the Okazaki woman,
after he's been surprised
by Hernandez in the garage?
- Yeah, and why didn't he finish Hernandez
when he had the chance?
- Right.
Just doesn't hang together.
(ominous music)
(tires squealing)
(gear stick clacks)
(tires squealing)
(car door opens)
(car door closes)
- No!
(car horn honking)
No!
No, no, no!
No, no, no, please, no!
No!
No, please.
Please, please, don't hurt me!
No, please!
No, let go of me!
No, no!
No, please, don't hurt me!
No, please!
No!
No!
No!
(gun fires)
(glasses clattering)
(birds chirping)
(typewriter clacking)
(telephone ringing)
- [Gil] Frank.
- What is this?
- Breakfast.
I got you a deluxe burrito.
Beans and sausage, salsa
picante, peppers, and onions.
- Oh, hey, thanks very
much for getting it,
but, you know, I can't eat it.
- Why not?
- Fear.
- It's not that picante. You'll like it.
(Frank chuckles)
- Listen, Gil, I gotta tell you something.
I don't eat anything that's
made in the cafeteria.
- This is the food of Aztec kings.
This is East LA food.
It's good for the soul.
You don't know what you're missing.
- Come on, finish that
on the way downstairs.
Phil Thomas wants to see us.
- [Anne] Well, the city must be safe.
Frank Salerno isn't out at a crime scene.
- Hello, Miss Clark.
- Hi.
- Like you to meet my
new partner Gil Carrillo.
Anne Clark, Channel 3.
- How you doing?
- Nice to meet you.
- [Frank] So where's the Siamese twins?
- [Gil] What?
- [Anne] I think he means
my camera and sound.
They're having coffee.
(Frank chuckles)
Listen, is there anything
special about the shooting
of those two women at
that house in Rosemead?
- No, nothing special.
No motive, no suspect.
- Just checking.
- And no story.
- What's that supposed to mean?
- Oh, for you media types,
there's two kinds of homicides.
There's the whodunit and the who cares.
And most of the time, you don't care.
- Not broadcasting isn't
the same as not caring.
Look, I've got over 40
separate police departments
I have to check with besides
the Sheriff Department.
Whether you like it or not,
yours is just another LA County murder.
- Touchy.
- Not really.
Listen, when you get
into the whodunit part,
why don't you let me know?
I'll make you a hero again.
- Ah, the truth comes out.
Anne Clark was your press agent
on the Hillside Strangler case?
- Yeah, she did her best
to screw up that case too.
- I like her.
- You like everybody.
(folders thudding)
- Look at this damn place.
I've been testifying for three days
in a 10-year-old homicide case
where the defense
attorney keeps going over
the crime scene inch by inch by inch.
The judge oughta cut him off, but no.
- What do you got, Phil?
- Monterey Park had a young Asian woman
pulled out of her car, shot, and killed,
less than an hour and two miles
from where your victims were hit.
They think it's either
gang violence or robbery.
- What do you think?
- I think there's a
probable make on the .22
between both killings.
- You positive?
- With a .22, the best
I can do is probable.
The bullet is in a jacket,
and I just don't have enough
diameter to work with.
- Monterey Park got any witnesses?
- Yeah, some guy heard the shots
and saw the suspect get away.
- Let's send the composite
that Maria Hernandez made
over to Monterey Park.
See what their witness got to say.
Maybe we'll get lucky.
Thanks, Phil.
(switch clicks)
- [Pearl] You're gonna be late?
- I don't know. It's a double homicide.
- Mm.
- You feel like waiting up?
- I don't know, Gil.
Take your choice.
Hero or lover?
- Well, how about I'm the hero first,
and then you reward me?
- Red dog!
- Ah, blindsided again!
I think I fumbled!
- Let's go outside and
play some ball, Dad!
- Oh, I gotta take a rain check, Jaws.
I gotta go to work.
- [Jaws] You always have to go to work.
- Well, I know, but that's how I keep
your mama in diamonds and furs.
- I wish!
♪ Walked into the room ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ All the heads began to turn ♪
- Get down, get down.
- [Rene] Daddy.
- Rene!
- You can't Schicchi.
- [Pearl] I like the
way your daddy dances.
- Yeah, how do you think
I won your mama's heart?
- It wasn't dancing.
(button clicks)
Hey!
We were listening to that.
- You were? I thought you
were doing your homework.
- Where's the call-out at?
- To Whittier, I think.
- Oh, then you won't be home late.
(car horn honking)
- That's Frank.
- Mm.
- Daddy, be careful.
- Yeah, I will. You girls be good.
(Pearl chuckles)
(hands slapping)
All right.
(police radio chattering)
So did Monterey Park have
any luck with the composite?
- [Frank] No, just a dead end.
- [Gil] Damn.
(police radio chattering)
- [Officer] Move it along.
Let's go.
(car doors opening)
(police radio chattering)
- What do we have, Phil?
- The victims are husband
and wife, both Caucasian.
Vincent Zazzara, he's about 60.
His wife's name is Maxine, 40-ish.
- How were they killed?
- He was on the couch.
She's in the bedroom.
Both were shot in the head.
My preliminary guess is a .22.
- You ready to upgrade your make
from probable to positive, Phil?
(camera snaps)
- I think the killer
left by the front door,
but he probably got in back here.
We got a good print on the bucket,
and another one in the dirt.
Whoever did this also
used a knife on the woman.
Carved her up like a piece of meat.
And then he cut her eyes out.
This bastard took her eyes with him.
(ominous music)
(crickets chirping)
(dog barking)
(gate creaks)
(birds chirping)
- Last night, in Eagle Rock,
an eight-year-old girl
was kidnapped and raped.
We got this print at the scene.
It matches exactly this print
which we got out at the Zazzara house.
- The lab says we also
have a probable make
on the weapon in the Zazzara killings
to the shootings of the Asian women
in Rosemead, Monterey Park.
- But we think it's all tied to one guy.
- Now, wait a minute,
you got a child molester
and you got a murderer.
I don't see the connection.
- The connection isn't
all that obvious, Captain.
I mean, there's no pattern to the crimes.
- Yeah, sometimes there's a
murder, sometimes a burglary,
sometimes he just goes after kids.
- But it's one guy, I can feel it.
- What do the other departments think?
- That we're crazy.
The MOs indicate we should be
looking for several people.
- But, sir, I prefer to go
with the evidence, all right?
The tennis shoe prints
and the ballistics all
point to one suspect,
and we better do something about him.
- What do you need?
- Well, we could use some manpower.
The leads go all over the place.
- Okay. I can give you three teams.
Frank, you coordinate.
Put this case on the top of your list.
- Thanks.
(people chattering)
- Remember the shooting of
those two women in Rosemead?
- [Anne] Yeah, but there was
nothing special about it.
- I just got a call from a friendly source
who tells me that there's a mini taskforce
being formed up in Homicide,
that the Rosemead shooting is a part of
what they're investigating.
- What the hell is that all about?
- [Peter] That's what I
originally sent you to find out.
- I talked to the detectives.
- Anne, you know, a
good reporter finds out
what the story really is.
I can get a runner to
pick up press releases.
- Three rapes, definitively
tied into our case.
Five burglaries.
Okay?
Three child molestations.
Four murders.
All committed right in this area.
And then, last night,
William Doi, 60 years old,
took a probable .22 in the head.
- Aren't we missing something here?
Half these victims are Asian.
- Yeah, we kicked that around a bit,
but, you know, could
be just a coincidence.
The area he's hitting in right now
has a large Asian population.
- Yeah, there's no pattern
to the age of victims,
or the type of crime,
or the type of house,
or the color of house, or anything.
- We do know that he's wearing gloves,
which is why we're not getting any prints,
and, what, he is taking property
on the burglaries, mostly jewelry.
So, let's start checking the pawnshops.
He's gotta be dumping
this stuff someplace.
- Russo and I tracked down
that tennis shoe print.
It's a special shoe made by Avia,
and there are only 1,356 distributed.
- That's great, Washington.
That's gonna make it
that much easier for you
when you start tracing
every bill of sale, today.
(group laughing)
- Why did I know you were gonna say that?
- [Officer] You're saying the
color of the car was white?
Four-door?
- [Anne] I was just coming to see you.
- Oh, that's too bad. You just missed me.
- You haven't been returning my calls.
(button clicks)
(elevator bell dings)
- I didn't get any calls.
Did you get any calls?
- I didn't get any calls.
- Sorry.
- Okay, forget the calls.
You lied to me, Frank.
You told me there was no motive
or suspect in the Okazaki killing.
- I wasn't lying.
- Oh, really?
Well, I've been doing some checking.
What about William Doi?
Miss Yu?
The Zazzaras?
Did I miss any?
- All those cases are under investigation.
- Do these killings have any
connection to the taskforce
that's been formed in Homicide?
- Taskforce? What taskforce?
- Salerno, I'm gonna
find out what's going on,
with or without your cooperation.
You know, you used to be a
pretty easy guy to talk to?
Now, you turned into a real hard nose.
- Look, this is different,
really different.
- In what way different?
What are you calling this killer?!
- Suspect!
- She gonna start putting heat on us?
- Oh, not just her.
We're gonna have the
whole damn press corps
down here poking around.
And the more they learn,
the more likely our suspect
will get nervous and split.
(police radio chattering)
- Put yourself right here.
I'm going down.
(police radio chattering)
(officers chattering)
- Channel 3 Exclusive News has learned
the two elderly sisters,
Mabel Bell and Florence Lang,
were brutally attacked while they sat
watching television in their home.
Although Los Angeles
Sheriff homicide detectives
would not be interviewed,
the Night Stalker taskforce
has been to the scene
of this terrible crime.
The taskforce has been investigating
the Night Stalker killings
for over eight weeks.
There appear to be no leads.
(button clicks)
- This maniac has killed
five people already.
I got a wife and kid to worry
about, and I'll tell you,
I got my hunting rifle
stashed under my bed.
If he comes from me, I'm gonna be ready.
Fill you up?
- No thanks.
(handset clacks)
(coins rattling)
- Mrs. Bell didn't make it.
She died an hour and a half ago.
- What about her sister?
- Yeah, well, she's still hanging on,
but I don't think she's
gonna be much use to us.
- Unbelievable.
You work hard your whole life,
you take good care of your family,
go to bed one night and get
beat to death by this bastard.
For what?
- Take it easy, Gil.
(Gil sighs)
Come on.
We'll get him.
- When?
When are we gonna get him?
- It's not necessarily the same guy.
Mrs. Bell had a pentagram
drawn on her thigh.
There was another one on the wall.
With all the other murders,
there was none of that Satanic crap.
- Frank, it's him.
He's working my neighborhood now.
My wife is starting to ask me questions.
I don't know what to tell her.
- Want another drink?
- No, I better get home before Pearl files
a missing persons report.
I'll see you.
- Gil.
We are gonna get him.
He'll make a mistake, soon.
- Yeah.
(gentle music)
(tires squealing)
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
(police radio chattering)
- You know why I pulled you over, sir?
- [Man] No.
- Failed to come to a complete
stop back at that stop sign.
May I see your driver's license, please?
- [Man] Don't have it.
- Step out of the car, please?
(door opens)
Do you have any identification at all?
- No.
- All right.
What's your name?
- [Man] Sanchez. Jose Sanchez.
- [Officer] Date of birth?
- [Jose] April 2nd, '61.
- [Officer] Where do
you live, Mr. Sanchez?
- [Jose] 302 Elmwood.
- [Officer] 302 Elmwood.
All right, just hang loose a
minute. This won't take long.
(keyboard clicking)
- [Dispatcher] All units,
an attempted kidnapping
just occurred at York and North Broadway
by a male, dark, driving
a late model red Toyota.
Suspect was last seen driving westbound...
(upbeat music)
(gate rattles)
(ominous music)
- Is Jack Peterson married?
- [Frank] Yeah, last time I heard.
- [Jane] Well, I'll take a chance
and send the invitation to Mr. and Mrs.
I'm inviting the Keltners.
- No, you're not.
- Why not?
- 'Cause I don't like the Keltners.
- Well, they invited us
to their son's wedding.
- But I didn't go. Ah.
- Because you were working.
But we were still invited.
- And I still don't like the Keltners.
(telephone ringing)
Hello?
Yeah.
Great.
It's about time we hit something.
Right.
Thanks, Gil.
- Guess I'll finish this on my own?
- Sorry.
It's important.
I love you.
I still can't stand the Keltners.
- [Dr. Chow] You'll have to excuse me.
I'm not used to opening up this office.
(lock clicking)
My assistants are here usually before me.
- [Frank] We wanna thank
you for coming in, Dr. Chow.
- Let me turn on some lights.
(switch clicks)
I hope I can find the file.
I wish Marshall were here.
Here it is.
Jose Sanchez.
- Does this drawing resemble Mr. Sanchez?
- I think that's him.
He was in here only one time.
- Did he give you an address?
- He must have when he filled out
the patient information form.
Here. Jose Sanchez.
302 Elmwood Road.
- Did he make another appointment
when he was in here last time?
- I can check the book.
His teeth were in very bad condition.
I just gave you his address.
Why don't you just go up and pick him up?
- Well, we'd love to, but
that address doesn't exist.
We already checked it out.
- What did he do?
- We don't know that he did anything.
We just wanna talk to him.
(ominous music)
- Well...
I don't see anything.
Wait.
Here it is.
- Jose Sanchez, 3:00 p.m., the 22nd.
You think he'll show?
- It's in the book.
(Frank sighs)
(bag rustling)
- What the hell's keeping this
guy? It's after four o'clock.
- I don't know.
Maybe he figures we found the card.
Maybe he forgot about the
appointment. I don't know.
- You wanna call it off for today?
- No.
He's open till five. Let's wait it out.
- What?
- I don't know, just
thinking how lucky I am.
- How lucky are you, Frank?
- Well, that it's not winter yet.
You know, when I gotta
roll up the windows.
- Would you suffer in
silence for a change?
It's too damn hot.
(Frank chuckles)
- Have a little more salsa, huh?
- Shut up.
- There he is.
There he is.
(apprehensive music)
- Target approaching location.
Take him.
(upbeat music)
Police officer. I'd like to talk to you.
(gate rattles)
You're under arrest for
suspicion of murder.
(tires squealing)
(handcuffs clicking)
(Gil speaking in foreign language)
(Frank sighs)
(Gil speaking in foreign language)
(door opens)
(Gil speaking in foreign language)
What's up, Captain?
- Your suspect's alibi checks out.
The guy was in prison until last week.
He's not your man.
- Damn!
- You're positive the guy you arrested
at the dentist's office is clean?
- Yes, sir. He just was
released from the county jail.
He was doing six months
on a bad check charge.
- Anything from the streets yet?
- Zero, no trace of the stolen property.
We squeezed all our informants, nothing.
- We'd like to send out
this special bulletin
to most of the dentists in the area.
He tries to get treatment somewhere else,
we might get tipped off.
- With that many bulletins out,
we also buy ourself a pretty
good chance of a leak.
- Yeah, I don't like it much either.
But if one dentist calls in, that's it.
- Send it out.
There's something else
we should talk about.
Do you feel that air conditioning?
We've got the whole San
Gabriel Valley sleeping
with their windows open
because of this heatwave.
This guy takes advantage
of those open windows.
We know that, the citizens don't.
We have to tell them.
- During recent months, a
number of sexual assaults
and murders may have been
committed by the same individual
in the San Gabriel Valley.
- What is that?
- Sheriff's Department's press release.
I mean, listen to this.
Investigation has revealed
that, in many cases,
doors and windows have been left unlocked
due to warm weather.
I mean, it's the stalker. It has to be.
- Anne, you know that,
the papers know that,
the networks know that.
That's not enough.
You've gotta know it first,
and you've gotta be able to prove it.
What do the cops have to say?
- As usual, nothing.
I mean, I've never worked on a case
where the lid has been shut so tightly.
- Hm.
Brown's got connections downtown.
What if I swing him over to help you out?
- I don't want any help. This is my story.
- What's wrong? Something bothering you?
- It's this assignment.
I've never been on an
assignment like this.
I can't get any information.
This killer, the Night Stalker,
he really has people afraid.
- So what is the problem?
That's a great angle for you.
City held hostage.
That's a whole new approach to the story.
(ominous music)
(crickets chirping)
(slim jim rattling)
(lock clicks)
(ominous music)
(police radio chattering)
(telephone rings)
(switch clicks)
- Yeah?
(Gil sighs)
How long ago?
Why wasn't it on the radio?
Nevermind. I'll roll on it.
- [Pearl] It's the same case, isn't it?
- I don't know. That's
what I gotta find out.
(switch clicks)
(telephone ringing)
Thanks.
Yeah?
Did you get that call, Frank?
No, I got the other notification.
How far from that location is this one?
(Gil sighs)
All right, I'll...
Yeah, I'll cover the first one.
All right.
- The stalker again?
- We think so, yeah.
- This is the third time you've received
a double notification, Gil.
I'm getting scared.
- You have nothing to worry about, Pearl.
- Is that why you stay up
listening to police calls
instead of going to sleep?
- Look, I'm just trying
to get a handle on this.
- Catch him, honey, soon.
(Gil sighs)
- I'm trying, baby.
I am trying.
(birds chirping)
- [Woman] Mary was going
to Australia this summer
with her senior citizens group.
She was really looking
forward to that trip.
- [Anne] Was she aware of the
recent murders in this area?
- Oh, sure.
We were talking about this
killer just the other day.
We've all been afraid.
Where can we go?
What can we do?
- You're the one that
found her, weren't you?
- Oh, I can't get that out of my mind.
When I woke up this morning,
I saw the screen was off
her living room window.
As soon as I went inside,
I knew something was wrong.
The lamp was laying on the floor,
and things were just thrown all about.
- Did you hear anything at all?
- No.
What bothers me is that I saw
this tall, dark man walking
in the neighborhood,
and he just didn't seem to belong.
Maybe if I'd call the police,
this wouldn't have happened to Mary.
- Why do you think he's
connected with her murder?
- The police showed me
a drawing of a suspect,
and I think it's the same man.
- Did they appear to agree with you?
- I think so.
They were very excited
about some tennis shoe print
that they found under
the living room window.
- Tennis shoe print?
- Come on, Anne, you can't
broadcast that information.
- Confirm or deny?
True or false?
Yes or no?
Come on yourself, Frank.
It's a very easy question.
Do you or do you not
have tennis shoe print
evidence on this killer?
- If any of this stuff gets out,
you can ruin the entire investigation.
- Well, it's my decision, not yours.
Never was, never will be.
- I'll make a deal with you. All right?
I'll give you the whole story
if you agree not to broadcast
any of it until I say so.
- I'll tell you what, I won't broadcast
unless I get corroboration
from an independent source.
- Not good enough.
- Oh, come on.
Then we're back to square
one. Confirm or deny?
- All right.
We have matched tennis shoe prints
from several murders and a kidnapping.
It's the only evidence we got.
And if you go on the air with this,
our killer would probably
dump the sneakers
and we'll never be able to identify him.
- Damn it, Frank, that's not fair!
This is a good story.
You can't lay that kind
of responsibility on me.
- Anne, right now, we
got this killer contained
in the San Gabriel Valley.
He's territorial.
It's only a matter of
time until we get him.
I mean, so what's it gonna be?
Your ratings or your conscience?
Sorry.
(birds chirping)
(doorknob rattles)
(hand knocking)
- Dad? Are you home?
We'll be late for church.
(hand knocking)
Mom? Are you in there?
(ominous music)
Mom?
Dad?
(ominous music)
Mom?
Dad?
(hand knocking)
(woman gasps)
Oh, god!
Oh, my god!
They killed my family!
Oh, god, help me!
Help me, please.
Oh, god.
(woman crying)
- Phil?
Carrillo just called in from Glendale.
A double murder.
It's the stalker.
- Well, you better go pick Gil up.
LAPD is investigating a murder in Sunland.
It could also be him.
- Phil, Sunland is in
the San Fernando Valley.
That's more than 20
miles from San Gabriel.
- Frank, I don't give a
damn if it's in China.
It looks like it could be the stalker.
- The one sure thing we got
on this guy is his geography.
There's a pattern. He's contained.
- Ah.
Well, what if he isn't?
(ominous music)
- [Detective] Suspect shot
the husband right off the bat,
then raped his wife.
They're both recent
immigrants from Thailand.
- [Frank] What did they take?
- [Detective] Hell, the wife's not sure,
but it could be as much as
30 grand in money and jewels.
Think this guy is tied into your killer?
- Oh, my god.
What are we gonna do now, Frank?
- Well, call Grimm's office.
Tell him the Night
Stalker has just started
hitting out of his territory.
(ominous music)
Now he's hitting out by my house too.
(Frank sighs)
- Oh!
- Oh!
(Frank chuckles)
What is wrong?
- Nothing's wrong.
(Jane sighs)
- You're a nervous wreck.
- I just have a few things on my mind.
- From work?
- No.
I was thinking about Butch's wedding.
You know, here, I've been so busy lately,
and you've been having to
make all the arrangements
- Frank, in all the years
you've been on the job,
I have never asked you any questions.
But you've never brought it home before.
I'm gonna start wondering
why it's home now.
(Frank sighs)
- I'm sorry, Jane.
(Frank chuckles)
There's nothing to worry about it.
I'll be right back.
(Jane sighs)
(keypad clicking)
(telephone rings)
- Hello?
- Hello, Gil?
- Frank, what's up?
- I got a funny feeling about tonight.
- I know, I'm getting the same vibes.
- He's gonna go out tonight. I know it.
- [Gil] Yeah, but where?
- I wish I knew.
It's driving me crazy.
- [Gil] You know, Frank,
I wonder if he ever thinks
about us and what we think about him.
- Yeah.
Me too.
(Frank chuckles)
♪ With shadows creeping to the air ♪
♪ When the sun falls from the sky ♪
♪ Streets reflect the midnight glare ♪
♪ And the dark gets in your eyes ♪
♪ The sirens stop their singing ♪
♪ And the cats begin to fight ♪
♪ The smell of violence rushes by ♪
(hand knocking)
- Can you lower that music?!
It's too loud!
No one can sleep!
(hand knocking)
♪ A night gremlin ♪
♪ I come into your home ♪
(hand knocking)
If you don't shut that music off,
I'm going to call the cops!
(hand knocking)
♪ A night gremlin ♪
(hand knocking)
♪ A night gremlin ♪
(dial clicks)
(baby crying)
(ominous music)
(ominous music)
(latch clinks)
- Who are you? What are you doing here?
- [Man] Shut up, bitch.
(woman screams)
(gun fires)
(indistinct)
(gun fires)
(man groaning)
(baby crying)
- I think I was hit with
some sort kind of gun.
I've been shot.
(baby crying)
- Oh, my god.
- Oh, I've been shot!
- The baby! The baby!
(baby crying)
It's all right, baby. It's okay.
All right, don't cry. It's all right.
Come on.
- He shot us! We're bleeding!
- Come on, we gotta get out of the house.
He might come back. Come on!
Come on!
- Okay!
(bells jingling)
(Jane sighs)
(gentle music)
(bells jingling)
(gate closes)
- You know, I've been planning
on rigging these for a long time.
It's not just him.
- I didn't say anything.
- I'm sorry, honey.
- What's really wrong?
Is it that couple that was
shot a little way from here?
The Petersons?
- He's right in our backyard, Jane.
It's never happened to us before.
- Well, the Petersons are
going to be okay, aren't they?
- They survived.
I don't know if they're gonna be okay.
How do you live with that memory?
I don't know if I could.
(Jane sighs)
- Oh, it's okay, sweetie.
- No, it's not.
My job is to get guys
like that off the streets.
People count on that.
I count on it.
(Frank chuckles)
When I went to the store,
this was the last set of bells, you know?
They're all sold outta locks.
People are scared.
They feel they can't count on us anymore.
- You're going to catch him.
I know you will.
- Anne Clark has been covering
the Night Stalker case
for Exclusive News since the beginning.
And she's here tonight
with a special report.
Anne?
- Thanks, Rip.
The dictionary defines fear
as a feeling of anxiety caused by
the presence of danger or evil.
At no time, in the history of Los Angeles,
has this definition been more poignant
than during the current reign of terror
of the Night Stalker.
- Scared, I think everybody else is scared
along with us, you know?
- It's as a scary situation. Okay?
I mean, what else can you...
I can't put it any better than that.
- I've been a very apprehensive.
I keep my doors locked,
and my guns loaded.
- [Anne] New memberships
in gun clubs have increased
over 200% in the last month.
The majority of these members are women,
women who are single, alone, and afraid.
- Either that or be sitting duck.
I have grandchildren. They come to stay.
Should I sit by and watch them get killed,
or should I try to save them?
(dog barking)
- For some, the anxiety is
lessened by getting a guard dog.
Others learn self-defense.
(man shouts)
(siren wails)
Communities are on the alert,
neighborhood watch committees
have been organized,
but the fear continues to escalate,
and citizens are losing faith
in the ability of the
police to protect them.
- Well, I think it's a community affair.
I think police just can't
take care of everything.
- As time goes by with less
and less progress being
made by the authorities,
the citizens are beginning
to believe that the night,
and the city, do belong
to the Night Stalker.
- Good story, Anne.
Is there anything our public
can do to protect themselves?
- The best thing is for
them to remember to keep
their doors and windows locked,
no matter how hot it gets outside.
- And speaking of hot,
Vance Kramer will be here with the latest
on our current heatwave,
when Exclusive News continues
right after these messages.
- Thanks, guys.
(crew chattering)
See you later.
- [Peter] Anne, good story.
- Thanks.
- Really, that was some fine work.
- Thank you.
- I talked to Harry about doing a special
on the Night Stalker.
You know, the whole shot, the killings,
the taskforce, everything.
- What did he say?
- He was interested.
Said there might even be a good chance
of running it nationally
with you as a cohost.
- Oh, you're kidding.
- But there's a catch.
We'd have to pick up something new,
anything that would be a
breakthrough in the case.
He doesn't want a special just to rehash
what we've already aired.
- I'll keep my eyes open.
(tongue clicks)
Peter.
- Yeah?
- Could you walk me to my car?
- Sure.
(Gil sighs)
- Pearl?
- Hello, Gil.
I've been waiting for you.
- What's going on, baby?
Where are the kids?
- They're at my folks'.
We're gonna stay with them for a while.
- Why?
- You have to ask?
I'm scared, Gil.
You're never home, and I'm scared.
I can't help it.
(Gil sighs)
- Okay, look, let's just
talk this out, all right?
I'm doing the best I can, sweetheart.
You feel like I'm letting
you down, is that it?
- You hit on the nose.
You're damn right. You're letting me down.
- Well, what do you want me to do, Pearl?
(Pearl sighs)
Pearl?
- That call-out in Diamond Bar,
it was him again, wasn't it?
(Gil sighs)
- Yeah, we think it was.
- That's right down the street, Gil.
- I know where it is.
You don't think I worry
about you and the kids?
- But it came down to a choice
between us and your job,
and you chose your job.
- My job puts food on that table!
You never objected before!
- I never was afraid before!
I didn't marry your
work, Gil, I married you!
- This is not about me, Pearl!
This is not my fault!
It's not even about us, it's about him!
And you know it.
- Maybe you're right.
Then the only thing that'll
help is for you to catch him.
- What do you think I'm trying to do?
- I can't stay here alone anymore, Gil.
(gentle music)
(Pearl sighs)
Take care of yourself, okay?
- Pearl?
(door closes)
(newspaper clatters)
(Gil sighs)
(telephone ringing)
(people chattering)
- [Washington] Phil Thomas wants you
to see these right away.
- [Frank] Oh, please, let it be good news.
- He changed guns on us.
He used a .25 in the last two killings.
- That's great!
Phil can you give us a
positive make on this .25.
We catch him with this gun, he's nailed.
- Hey, Frank! Gil!
Board of Supervisors
approved of the reward money.
- It's about time.
Now everybody in LA
will be looking for him.
- [Frank] Right.
(ominous music)
(bell tolling)
(cupboard doors slamming)
(drawer rattles)
(airplane screeching)
(tires screeching)
- When we saw this on the mirror,
we thought there might be a
connection to your suspect,
but the weapon doesn't fit.
This guy used a .25, not a .22.
- It fits.
- Good God in heaven.
And we thought it was hard
trying to catch him in the Valley.
He's cruising the whole damn state, Frank.
- Well, things move a
little quicker up here
than they do in LA.
City Council's pre-approved the reward,
and the mayor's got a press
conference this afternoon.
- We've been very careful
what we told the press.
- Don't worry about the mayor.
She's smart, and she's been briefed.
- The police are asking for information
that can lead to his arrest and capture.
So I would ask everybody,
please, closely study this composite.
- Is this the mayor?
- He's someone that-
- Yeah.
- Will go into a home
at night and will kill,
and kills at random.
There's a 10,000-dollar
reward for any information
which can lead to his
arrest and conviction.
- [Reporter] Mayor, how did
the police know this murder
is tied to the Night Stalker
slayings in Los Angeles?
- The ballistics on the weapon,
that killed both Mr. and Mrs. Pan
out on Eucalyptus over the weekend,
are the same ballistics on, I understand,
more than a dozen murders committed
in Southern California.
- Oh, great!
That's great!
Well, it won't be the same ballistics
for very much longer, will it?!
Huh?!
Because now he's gonna dump the damn gun.
We had one rock solid piece
of evidence against this guy.
Now your mayor's gone spit it
out on national television.
Hey, real good briefing.
- That was the best piece
of information we had.
- [News Anchor] Known in Los
Angeles as the Night Stalker,
is now now here in the Bay area.
Mayor Feinstein...
(ominous music)
(suspenseful music)
(metal rattles)
(metal crashes)
- Hello?
Somebody out there?
(thrilling music)
(car door opens)
(car door closes)
(engine rumbling)
(tires squealing)
(dial whirring)
- [Officer] 9-1-1. Officer Kurtz.
- Hello? Officer, this
may not be anything,
but my mom's part of the new
neighborhood watch program
and she said I should call in
if I saw anything suspicious.
(police radio chattering)
- After he shoots our victim
three times in the head,
he ties up his fiancee and rapes her.
And get this, then he
goes into the kitchen,
helps himself to dinner.
He sits in front of the refrigerator,
eating their leftovers for over an hour.
- Oh, my god.
All right, any stolen property?
- Mostly jewelry.
We'll get a list tomorrow.
That woman's in pretty bad shape.
- Did she give us an ID on the composite?
- Like I said, we'll talk
to her again tomorrow.
A kid spotted a car cruising
the area with its lights off
just before the shooting.
Toyota station wagon.
Does that ring any bells?
(Gil sighs)
- Yeah, that rings some bills.
- Yeah, it's what he likes to use.
- Kid got most of the plate.
- [Gil] Well, that's something.
- One more thing, our
boy's getting pretty bold.
He left a message for you with the victim.
- Oh, yeah?
What?
- "Tell him the Night Stalker was here."
- [News Anchor] And now, we'll go to Cary
with the latest on the Night Stalker.
- [Cary] While investigation
of the Night Stalker
centered in San Francisco,
the elusive killer traveled
the length of the state
last night to strike in-
- Mom, Mom, it's Dad!
- [Cary] Between Los
Angeles and San Diego.
Despite the efforts of 50
full-time investigators,
from six agencies, the
Night Stalker taskforce-
- Finish your homework, buddy.
- But, Mom, it's Dad.
(Pearl sighs)
- What's the matter, miha?
You don't feel good?
- I feel okay.
- Okay people don't lay in bed crying.
- I just miss Daddy.
I miss him so much.
- Oh, sweetheart.
(Pearl sighs)
I miss him too, so much.
(dog barking)
(police radio chattering)
(ominous music)
- Control, this is 7 Adam 13.
Confirm 187 vehicle report.
Orange Toyota license,
930 Victor Echo Lima.
- I just spoke to Captain Grimm.
Keep the car under surveillance overnight.
He doesn't pick it up by
morning, we'll tow it to the lab.
Hope we get lucky.
Yeah.
Thanks a lot.
I got it.
- Hi.
- [Gil] Hi.
- [Frank] Who are you?
- Hamilton. I just started
on the force today.
- So?
- So I just took this over the phone.
Guy's name is Jesse. Claims
he knows who the stalker is.
- So do a lot of people.
- I know, but this guy described
a couple of the stolen
jewelry pieces real well.
And it says in the report
that we never released that information.
- [Frank] Hamilton, where have you been?
- You guys should've
called me up here earlier.
I could've solved this
thing on the first day.
- Wise guy.
Boom.
(Hamilton chuckles)
(ominous music)
- [Jessie] You guys Salerno and Carrillo?
- [Gil] Yeah.
Yeah.
You must be Jessie, huh?
- [Jessie] Yeah.
- [Frank] Got a name for us?
- Just the first one. His name is Rick.
- What about Rick?
- Mexican from El Paso.
He's one weird dude, man.
Like, I don't want any part of him.
- What's so weird about him?
- Drawing pentagrams, always
thinking about power of Satan,
power of Satan, like he's on some mission
from the Devil or something.
- And how do you know so much about him?
- I used to run with him.
Yeah, I admit it, I ain't no angel.
Maybe I even did some things
that shouldn't have been done,
but I ain't never killed
nobody, you can bet on that.
Right, right, uh-huh.
- I want him, Jessie.
I want him now.
We're gonna take you
down to the station now,
and you're gonna remember every place
that this guy Rick ever ate or drank
or slept or blew his nose.
- So I called you in the first place.
Yeah, I ain't interested just
in the reward money, you know?
- Yeah, right.
Oh, I bet you're just an upstanding,
civic-minded individual, aren't you?
(engine rumbles)
(winch whirring)
- Be careful. Careful!
I don't wanna see your damn
prints on that vehicle.
- We struck out every time so far.
He's either wearing gloves
or he's wiping clean.
- Well, we got a new toy.
The laser beam and the
fumes from super glue,
we can pick up any prints that
some guy has tried to wipe.
- Yeah.
Well, just give me something to go on.
- Hey, Frank, I want him too, you know?
- Sorry, Phil.
I'm tired of notifying
next of kin, that's all.
(upbeat music)
- [Gil] How long is this gonna to take me?
- Beats me.
(Frank sighs)
How's the family?
- Not good.
I guess I never understood how tough
it is being married to a cop until now.
- No fun and games, huh?
- Not too many.
(gentle music)
- Jane all right?
- Oh, well, (chuckles)
Jane's been a regular trooper
for more than 25 years now.
Anyway, it's different for us.
Our kids are all grown.
- Yeah.
(Gil sighs)
So he got to you too, didn't he, Frank?
(upbeat music)
(Gil coughing)
What time is it?
- Three in the morning.
(Gil sighs)
- I feel terrible.
- You look terrible.
- How can you drink coffee in this heat?
- Helps me sleep.
(Frank chuckles)
It's a joke.
- Yeah.
(Gil sighs)
(Frank chuckles)
(door closes)
- We found one print that doesn't belong.
- If it's good enough, it's all we need.
- Oh, it's good enough, all right.
- We just finished the
programming before you arrived.
- [Frank] I appreciate the effort.
- No problem.
The image scanner will
automatically initiate a search
and print out a hit list.
(keyboard clicking)
- So what do we do, run down
the list till we get a make?
- Oh, we probably won't have to do that.
The computer will assign a number
to each name that's on the list
plus a probability that it's the target.
Most of the time, the
number one choice is right.
- Will it take long?
- Are you kidding?
This baby can flip through
650 prints a second.
We'll go through her whole
memory in just a few minutes.
(printer whirring)
Ah, there it is.
(paper rips)
According to the computer,
number one on the list
has a probability rating
four times as high as that
of the nearest contender.
(ominous music)
- Richard Ramirez.
- You've already met Chief Gates
from the Los Angeles Police Department.
This is Sheriff Brad
Gates from Orange County.
- How do you do, Sheriff?
- Hi there, how are you?
- Nice to meet you.
- What'd you find out?
- We showed Ramirez's
mugshot to our informant.
Positive make, no doubt about it.
- And we're very confident
that we have pinpointed his hangouts.
- Give us another 24 hours,
and we'll have him wrapped up.
- Gentlemen?
How do you feel?
- Well, I can appreciate what
Frank and Gil are saying,
but we have to release the information.
What happens if he kills someone
in the 24 hours before we catch him?
- Yes, I agree with Daryl.
Our obligation is to a potential victim.
- Sir, if his identity is made public,
we may never see him again.
- Yeah, all he has to
do is skip into Mexico,
and that'll be it.
- I don't think this is a
question of "Shall we release?"
We can't not release.
- Look, right now, he hasn't got a clue
that we know who he is and where he is.
He could walk into her hands any minute.
- I'm sorry, Frank.
(Frank sighs)
We've got to release.
Let's call Chief Murphy in San Francisco.
If he agrees with our decision,
we'll hold simultaneous news
conferences within the hour.
- Frank, if I had been
there in the trenches
the way you and your men have
been for the last five months,
I'd be arguing the same way.
- Yeah.
Well, let's hope Ramirez
doesn't read the papers.
(door opens)
(door closes)
(ominous music)
- [Announcer] Bus number
453 leaving for Los Angeles
will be departing from stop number 2.
Bus number 169 leaving for Las Vegas
will be departing from stop number 10.
Bus number 676 leaving
for Tijuana, Mexico,
will be departing from stop number 8.
Bus number 812 leaving for
Albuquerque, New Mexico,
will be departing from stop number 20.
(upbeat music)
Bus number 354 leaving
from Prescott, Arizona,
will be departing from stop number 7.
(coin rattles)
Bus number 961 leaving
for Santa Fe, New Mexico,
will be departing from stop number 12.
Bus number 767 leaving for (indistinct)
will be departing from stop number 10.
Bus number 280 leaving for Flagstaff
will be departing from stop number 30.
(upbeat music)
(bus hisses)
(ominous music)
- Oh, my god, it's him.
It is him, the Night Stalker.
(dramatic music)
Get me the police.
(people chattering)
- 1 Adam 6, 1 Adam 6, see the man,
possible wanted 187 suspect.
800 block of town.
Your call is code 2.
(siren wailing)
(tires squealing)
187 suspect Richard Ramirez
last seen running eastbound
from the 800 block of town streets.
- Yo, Frank, pick up line 3.
(Frank sighs)
- Salerno.
We're on our way.
He's been spotted. Let's close in.
- [Gil] Yeah!
(helicopter whirring)
- [Richard] Open the door!
- Got a moment?
- Yeah, but just a moment.
They think they're pursuing Ramirez.
- I'm gonna send Judy out on this one.
- What?
You can't do that.
- Oh, yes, I can, and I am.
- This is my story. I've been
on it since the beginning.
- I've been talking to my source downtown.
You had that tennis shoe
clue a long time, Anne,
and and you sat on it!
- That's right, Peter, I had it.
I had it and I sat on it.
- We could've scooped the
other networks with that story.
You could've had that special.
- My god, do you have any
idea what that would've meant
to a station like ours?
- What the hell is wrong with you?
If I had released that information,
it would've taken that much longer
for them to catch this guy.
Do you realize how many
more people might've died?
What the hell is that worth?
- I'm sorry.
(Peter sighs)
Bring back a good story.
(suspenseful music)
(people chattering)
(bell ringing)
- Suspect Richard Ramirez is reported
to be wearing black pants and shirt
and carrying a black backpack.
Suspect should be considered
armed and dangerous.
- This is it, Gil.
I can feel it.
It's all over.
(siren wailing)
(thrilling music)
(helicopter whirring)
- Hey, that's him, man.
That's the Night Stalker.
- Come on, eh, you're crazy!
- [Man In Purple] Look at the paper!
- It is him. Well, what should we do, eh?
- Let's follow him, all right?
Come on, you guys, let's follow him.
Come on!
He's up there someplace.
Let's go.
He's right up there, man. Take your time.
There he is. Now take to the right.
Not too close.
- Hey, he knows we're following him.
- Stop. Stop.
Drop me off. I'm calling the cops.
- What do you want from me?!
The hell do you want?
(tires squealing)
(siren wailing)
- [Dispatcher] Suspect reported northbound
on Mott Street from 8th.
- Let's keep him boxed in.
Seal it off at Brooklyn Avenue.
- Control, this is King 12.
Request patrol units establish a perimeter
at Brooklyn on the north.
- Indiana Street on the east.
4 Adam 3, 4 Adam 16,
proceed to Olympic Boulevard
on south and meet 4L30.
(siren wailing)
(tires screeching)
(helicopter whirring)
(gate rattling)
(television chattering)
(Richard yelling in foreign language)
- No!
(lock clicks)
(dial whirring)
(tires screeching)
(siren wailing)
- Citizen reports suspect
Richard Ramirez is in the vicinity
of the 3600 block of Percy Street.
(siren wailing)
(helicopter whirring)
(siren wails)
(tires screeching)
(gate rattles)
(dog barking)
(car door opens)
(engine rumbling)
- [Man] That's my car!
(man yelling in foreign language)
(engine sputtering)
(man yelling in foreign language)
(tires screeching)
(man yelling in foreign language)
(engine sputtering)
(man yelling in foreign language)
(man groans)
(fence crashes)
(dog barking)
(siren wailing)
(Richard yelling in foreign language)
(woman screaming)
(woman yelling in foreign language)
(bar thuds)
(woman yelling in foreign language)
- Come on, it's him!
It's him! It's the Night Stalker!
Come on!
Come on!
(bar thuds)
(Richard groans)
Guys, hold him!
Hold him till the cops get here!
(siren wailing)
(people shouting)
Guys, stay with him!
(tires screeching)
(people shouting)
- We've been chasing him for 20 minutes.
- [Man] Get up! Come on!
Go!
- Get him up, move it!
- You're okay?
- Move, move, move, move.
- [Officer] Yeah, man, we got him.
(siren wailing)
(handcuffs clicking)
(Richard panting)
Come on, clear, man.
(people chattering)
(siren wailing)
- What's your name?
(Richard panting)
- Richard Ayala.
- One more time.
What's your name?
(Richard panting)
(Richard coughs)
(Richard panting)
- Richard Ramirez.
It's me, man.
(Richard panting)
It's me.
- Put him in the back of my car.
- [Officer] Let's go.
Get up.
- Up.
- Yeah!
- We've got him.
- Yeah!
- Get him outta here!
- [Gil] Round up all these witnesses.
Bring them down to Holiday. All right?
- [Frank] Let's get him
outta here right away.
(engine rumbles)
(crowd cheering)
(siren wailing)
- The capture of Richard Ramirez was,
in the truest sense, a community effort.
This same community, so
terrorized by the Night Stalker,
can now finally sleep in peace,
opening their doors and
windows in this heatwave,
as the suspect is now in custody.
(door opens)
- We're gonna be transporting
you to county jail.
You can call an attorney
when you get there.
- Officers.
(ominous music)
You're Salerno and Carrillo, aren't you?
You got the Hillside Stranglers.
- They were in this room.
- No kidding.
- You know, I was bigger than them.
I killed over 20 people.
- Why did you do that?
- Why?
Man, I like seeing people die.
(Richard laughing)
- I have been trying to
think what to say to you,
and there is nothing.
- You think I'm crazy.
But you don't know Satan.
(Richard humming)
(Richard laughing)
(Richard humming)
(Gil sighs)
- So why don't I feel like we won, Frank?
- Nobody won.
Too many people got hurt.
We're gonna be living with
this one for a long time.
- Yeah, they caught him about an hour ago.
No, no, I'm gonna send the
crew in soon with the tape.
No, no, Tammy can do the
story on the six o'clock.
I don't mind.
Yeah.
I love you too.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Anne.
Partner, I gotta make a phone call, so-
- Nice tie.
- Thank you.
- [Anne] Congratulations.
- Yeah.
Well, it was the photo in
the press that caught him.
Listen, I'm sorry I was so tough on you.
- Does that mean I'm gonna get
better cooperation on the next case?
- No.
We've gotta go case by case.
- Okay.
- But I do owe you one
for sitting on the tennis shoe evidence.
- So?
- So, you got your camera crew here?
- Yeah.
- Well, if you happen to be downstairs
in the next five minutes,
you just might get the
only exclusive shots
of the Night Stalker being
transferred out of this station.
- Frank!
Love you, Salerno!
- Sweetheart, it's me.
Did you hear?
It's over.
- Are you all right?
- I'm fine.
Look, I don't know how long
I'm gonna have to be here tonight,
but I want you to come home.
- We're on our way.
I'll see you at home.
- Baby?
- Mm?
- [Gil] I missed you.
(Pearl sighs)
- I missed you too, honey.
- See you tonight.
- Here they come.
Mr. Ramirez, would you
care to make a comment?
Are you the Night Stalker?
- All right, that's it.
Thank you. Easy does it.
(reporters chattering)
(crowd cheering)
(siren wailing)
- [Narrator] Richard
Ramirez was brought to trial
on 13 counts of murder, five
counts of attempted murder,
11 counts of sexual assault,
and 14 counts of burglary.
On September 20th, 1989,
he was found guilty on all counts.
(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)
(gentle music)